里克·赖利/RickReilly
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Worknightstopayfortheirtextmessaging……ButcomparedwithDickHoyt, I’-fivetimeshe’spushedhisdisabledson, Rick,’’salsopulledhimcross-countryskiing, , right?
AndwhathasRickdoneforhisfather?Notmuch-exceptsavehislife.
ThislovestorybeganinWinchester, Mass.43yearsago, whenRickwasstrangledbytheumbilicalcordduringbirth, leavinghimbrain-damagedandunabletocontrolhislimbs.“He’llbeavegetabletherestofhislife,”DicksaysdoctorstoldhimandhiswifewhenRickwasninemonthsold.“Puthiminaninstitution.”
ButtheHoytsweren’’seyesfollowedthemaroundtheroom.WhenRickwas11theytookhimtotheengineeringdepartmentatTuftsUniversityandaskediftherewasanythingtohelptheboycommunicate.“Noway,”Dicksayshewastold.“There’snothinggoingoninhisbrain.”
“Tellhimajoke,”, ?“GoBruins!”Andafterahighschoolclassmatewasparalyzedinanaccidentandtheschoolorganizedacharityrunforhim, Rickpeckedout,“Dad, Iwanttodothat.”
Yeah, , aself-described“porker”whoneverranmorethanamileatatime, goingtopushhissonfivemiles?Still, hetried.“Thenitwasmewhowashandicapped,”Dicksays.“Iwassorefortwoweeks.”ThatdaychangedRick’slife.“Dad,”hetyped,“whenwewererunning, itfeltlikeIwasn’tdisabledanymore!”
AndthatsentencechangedDick’-bellyshapethatheandRickwerereadytotrythe1979BostonMarathon.“Noway.”’tquiteasinglerunner, andtheyweren’tquiteawheelchaircompetitor.
ForafewyearsDickandRickjustjoinedthemassivefieldandrananyway, thentheyfoundawaytogetintotheraceofficially:In1983theyrananothermarathonsofasttheymadethequalifyingtimeforBostonthefollowingyear.
